La cousine Bette
Honoré de Balzac
Reading Time
at 250 WPM8h 20m
The average reader, reading at a speed of 250 WPM, would take 8h 20m to read La cousine Bette.
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17
days at 30 min/day
500
total minutes
La cousine Bette
Published
1965
Publisher
Éditions Garnier frères
Pages
500
Description
Set at the time of the July Monarchy this book tells the story of how the dowdy and scorned Cousin Bette brings to its knees the family of the rich libertine Baron Hulot d'Ervy and his beautiful but sanctimonious wife Adeline. Full of fascinating but believable characters the book explores the world of the Paris of the 1830s and 40s from the commercial to the artistic; from the now-fading aristocracy of the Napoleonic era to the intellectual world of sculptors and stage singers. This is the sort of book Dickens might have written had be been allowed the scope to explore the sexual themes and the world of the demi-monde. Many of the characters are based on people Balzac knew, including the writer himself, and right up to the last page there is dry wit and irony serving as a critique of the Paris of Louis-Philippe and the morals of the day. Like a lot of Balzac's work, the book is studded with references to classical French literature and to obscure figues in French history, much of which may be lost on the average English reader. Nevertheless the book is worth reading in its original French provided that it is done slowly and methodically.
Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pages are in La cousine Bette?
This edition of La cousine Bette has approximately 500 pages. Please note, this is an estimate and the exact page count can vary between hardcover, paperback, and e-book versions.
How long does it take to read La cousine Bette?
For most readers, La cousine Bette typically takes between 10h 25m and 6h 57m to complete. This is based on the book's length of approximately 125,000 words and common reading speeds.
Here's a detailed breakdown: • Continuous reading at 250 WPM: approximately 8h 20m of focused reading • Casual reading (30 minutes/day): you could finish in roughly 17 days • Estimated word count: 125,000 words
Your individual reading time will vary based on your personal reading pace, the amount of daily reading time, and your familiarity with the subject matter.
What is the word count of La cousine Bette?
The estimated word count for La cousine Bette is approximately 125,000 words. This figure is calculated using industry-standard methods that consider genre-specific word density patterns, typical formatting and layout characteristics, and standard words-per-page ratios for published books.
This is an approximation — actual word count may vary based on font size, formatting, edition, and the presence of illustrations or charts.
Who is the author of La cousine Bette?
La cousine Bette was written by Honoré de Balzac.
When was La cousine Bette published?
The publication date for this specific edition is 1965. The original work may have been published on a different date.